Despite spotting the Padres four first-inning runs, the Phillies offense erupted for seven runs over the first two frames and never looked back en route to an 11-5 victory on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Carlos Santana highlighted a six-run second inning with a three-run homer, and Cesar Hernandez capped a four-run eighth with a two-run double to lift the Phillies to the win.

The victory enabled the Phillies to maintain their 1/2 game lead over the Braves in the NL East and improved to a league-best 31-16 mark at home.

Jake Arrieta failed to get out of the fourth inning, surrendering five runs on four hits over 3 1/3 innings. He was backed, however, by an outstanding effort by the bullpen as Victor Arano, Tommy Hunter, Pat Neshek, and Adam Morgan each worked a scoreless frame.

Rookie Austin Davis recorded the first Major League victory of his career, tossing 1 2/3 innings of work while surrendering one hit while striking out three.

"Obviously he didn't have his best command and was a little rusty," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of Arrieta.

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Though he faltered on the mound, Arrieta's hustle on the basepath was a key reason why the Phillies could piece together a six-run second inning. With Scott Kingery on second base and Jorge Alfaro on first with one out, Arrieta hit a grounder to second base that, more often than not, results in a double-play but he beat it out to reach base safely. The Phillies went on from that point forward to score four more runs in the frame.

"What I thought was the play of the game, and that was Jake hustling out of the box to beat out that ground ball double-play in the second inning," Kapler said afterward. "They turn that double-play and the game is entirely different. I'm not sure anything that happens after that play happens if Jake isn't busting it out of the box."

Kingery, Cesar Hernandez, and Odubel Herrera each finished the contest with two hits apiece. The Phillies finished the night 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

"We got contributions from a lot of different spots in the lineup which is really refreshing," Kapler said. "You can look all the way up and down and see the big contributions."

Up Next
Vince Velasquez will have the ball on Saturday as the two clubs continue their three-game set. The Padres counter with right-hander Luis Perdomo. This will mark Velasquez's second start since returning from the disabled list after being hit in the forearm with a line drive. He tossed six scoreless innings and surrendered just two hits in his previous outing on July 11 against the Mets.
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